I mostly listened to my personal favorite, Jimmy Buffet, while I was in the office this week. However, last week in Chitwan we were also working with a Gandharva, a traditional nomadic folksinger. These musicians used to travel from village to village to spread news or tell stories, and Greenhood Nepal has started a program of writing conservation-focused songs and supporting singers to continue this traditional practice.
The most fun activity for me was playing futsal with some of my co-workers. I haven't played futsal (or soccer in any form) in a long time, so it was super fun to play again! Because Kathmandu is so crowded, there are almost no full-sized soccer fields in the city anymore. Instead, everyone plays 5v5 futsal on smaller astroturf fields.
This week, I read a lot about gharials, since after seeing them in Chitwan I wanted to learn more about the species. I also have been preparing for my next trip, so I have been studying up on medicinal plants in Nepal like orchids and yew trees. For leisure, I am currently reading "Say Nothing" which is about the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Besides futsal, I have also been doing kickboxing classes at a gym here in Kathmandu. Combat sports are becoming increasingly popular in Nepal, though still aren't as popular as soccer, volleyball and cricket, which are the country's main sports.
